Feature / Music
Pass The Mic: Record Labels and Artists on 2008

Words: Michael • Posted pre-2010

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Landmine Marathon (Ryan Butler)

What are your top five albums that were released in 2008?

  1. Trap Them - Seizers in Barren Praise
  2. Rotten Sound - Cycles
  3. Hail of Bullets - Of Frost and War
  4. Ghostlimb - Bearing and Distance
  5. Unleashed - Hammer Battalion

What band did you discover in 2008 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Trap Them. They'd been around for a few years and I finally picked up some of their stuff and discovered their Entombedy goodness.

How will you remember 2008? (In terms of music)

Somewhat bland other than the return of Martin Van Drunen to a full time band.

Vinyl record sales saw a significant increase this year while hard copy sales continued to dwindle. Is this a return to the glory days for vinyl or just a phase? Explain.

That's a good question. Trends come and go, but I think vinyl may be a great way to keep record sales up while still giving the customer a great bang for the buck. They can get a listenable collector's item and the bands/labels can still make money. I thought a few bands were smart this year in releasing vinyl with a one time only download code with it. Pretty solid idea if you ask me. From what I hear, all the pressing plants are so backed up that some of them are even refusing new customers. So, it's definitely popular right now and just could save the music industry.

What was the most memorable moment for you in 2008? (Can be in terms of anything)

Man, I have no idea. We did two tours that were great fun. Other than that, it flew by!

What can we look forward to from you in 2009?

We'll have a split 7" coming out with The Funeral Pyre, do some touring for "Rusted Eyes Awake," and be working on a new LP with a release somewhere around January 2010.

What three records are you looking forward to most in 2009?

Graf Orlock - Destination Time Today, Napalm Death - Time Waits for No Slave, and I heard Asunder is putting out a new record as well.

Homepage: http://landminemarathon.blogspot.com

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